UPF Barcelona School of Management rewards the values-laden leadership of Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola

In an emotional ceremony held today at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona School of Management, the Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, was honoured with the Business Person of the Year award, a recognition that highlights his work marked by vision, innovation and commitment to society.

During his speech, the Executive Chairman recalled how 25 years ago Iberdrola undertook a radical transformation of the energy sector, committing to electrification with clean energy, smart grids and storage. A commitment that, at the time, went against the tide, but which today has positioned the company as a global benchmark in sustainability and growth. 

The Executive Chairman also highlighted the role of companies as agents of social change: "More than two decades ago, we chose a path that seemed risky at the time, but which today has proven to be the right one".

Thanks to a strategy based on innovation, sustainability and internationalisation, Iberdrola now operates in more than 30 countries and has increased the value of its assets eightfold, reaching 160 billion euros. Its market capitalisation exceeds 100 billion euros -10 times more than in 2001-, consolidating its position as the largest electricity company in Europe and one of the two largest in the world.

Effort, behind all the growth

During his speech, the Executive Chairman stressed that this award has a special meaning for him as it comes from an institution that shares the same principles that have guided its management: "An institution that has made its four great values - the vocation to transform, the generation of positive impacts on society, ethics and continuous improvement - the basis for the success of the School itself and of those who are trained here. Values that have a lot to do with my 25 years at Iberdrola".

Beyond business achievements - such as a tenfold increase in market capitalisation or leading investment in energy innovation - the Executive Chairman stressed that the real driving force behind this success has been values and, above all, people. "Companies are people who work for and with people. None of what we have achieved would have been possible without a culture based on effort, honesty, loyalty and team spirit. These were the foundations of our first strategic plan in 2001, and they have accompanied us ever since on a path of continuous improvement," he said.

In view of the new context, the Executive Chairman stressed that Iberdrola faces the future from a position of solid leadership and with a clear vision: to be the protagonist of the greatest energy transformation in history. With global electricity demand set to double in the next two decades, the company is prepared to respond to this challenge thanks to a model based on clean energy, smart grids, storage and digitalisation. "We are at the beginning of a phase of tremendous growth, and our model puts us in the best position to take advantage of the greatest development prospects in our 125-year history," said the Executive Chairman. 

The President closed his speech with a declaration of principles: "The true dimension of leadership is to turn business achievements into shared progress, tangible well-being and concrete opportunities for people".

Ana Freire, Vice-Dean for Social Impact and Academic Innovation at the UPF Barcelona School of Management, was in charge of reading out the award winner's merits. Freire pointed out that Sánchez Galán, at the head of one of the largest electricity companies in the world, has spearheaded one of the most important energy transformations in the sector in recent decades. Under his leadership, Iberdrola has established itself as a global benchmark in renewable energies and smart grids in markets around the world.    

José Manuel Martínez Sierra, Director General of the UPF Barcelona School of Management, went on to recall that Harvard also recognises Ignacio Galán as one of the five most brilliant CEOs in the world.